Slay The Array Press Release

Campaign group welcomes SW Marine Energy Park announcement:

"This must surely mean the death knell for the misconceived Atlantic Array plan".

Campaign group Slay The Array has welcomed DECC Minister Greg Barker's announcement today that the South West is to be the UK's first Marine Energy Park.

The group, which coordinates opposition to the Atlantic Array, a plan to build up to 417 giant wind turbines in the Bristol Channel, believes that the announcement has been made 'in the nick of time'.

"This must surely be the death-knell for the Atlantic Array plan – possibly the most absurdly misconceived wind energy proposal in what is, let's face it, a crowded market," said Slay The Array spokesman Steve Crowther.

"The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range and some of the fastest tidal flows in the world.

"It's absolutely ideal for renewable – and reliable – tidal and marine current energy, which is why it was the site of a very successful trial of marine-current turbines in 2003.

"Yet the Crown Estates and RWE/npower are hatching plans to build between 188 and 417 giant wind turbines – the most unreliable, inefficient and discredited form of renewable energy – between North Devon and the Gower."

While the Atlantic Array developers claimed during recent public consultations that marine/tidal technology was 20 years behind wind, in fact RWE/npower is itself involved in the first major tidal array being developed off Anglesey, he went on.

"The tidal arrays are not on the same scale as the proposed wind-farm, but they are more efficient, more effective and less environmentally damaging.

"Water is 800 times denser than air, so it generates more power at less speed and enables smaller and slower rotors than are needed for wind power. This technology generates at around 60% of capacity, rather than the 32-35% thatwind can offer at best; and as the tides are predictable, all the power generated can be managed into the Grid, rather than wasted."

The Atlantic Array is proposed to occupy an area of 400km2, starting only 9 miles off the North Devon coast. The coastline includes Lundy Island and the headlands of Baggy Point, Morte Point and Bull Point, all owned by the National Trust, and is a haven for walkers, birdwatchers, surfers and seaside holidaymakers.

The area boasts the UK's first Marine Conservation Zone, set up to preserve a unique coral eco-system; one the UK's largest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; a UNESCO Biosphere; one of the country's few remaining fishing fleets and some of the country's most famous surfing beaches.

"It is hard to imagine a less appropriate place to line the horizon with turbines, and line the sea-bed with 400 islands each constructed out of concrete and 6,000 tonnes of huge boulders", said Steve Crowther.

"The huge subsidies paid for out of our fuel bills, and an abundant supply of wind turbines – some of questionable quality – has created a wind-rush which makes a few people rich and the vast majority of us poorer.

"In the last three weeks reports from two major think-tanks have shown that theSecretary of State's obsession with wind power is not only costing a fortune and pushing more people into fuel poverty, but is actively hampering our long-term energy strategy.

"Hopefully, Greg Barker's announcement shows that the 'dash for wind' is over, and the Atlantic Array will be consigned to the dustbin of history."


For further information contact Steve Crowther, Info@SlayTheArray.com

01271 813844 or 07775 787579 www.SlayTheArray.com

Misery continues for Fullabrook Residents

Sheep and lambs on Fullabrook Down.

This once peaceful spot is now the site of a giant wind turbine close to the hamlet of Fullabrook. This tiny hamlet is now virtually surrounded by turbines, and as you can read in the North Devon Journal article, (see below) they are making life a misery for Nick Williams, who lives there. Other people living in the area are suffering too.

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Delay-wind-farm-causing-misery/story-14399550-detail/story.html

David Hockney

David Hockney is in the news again, as he has been appointed to the exclusive Order of Merit.

The Guardian lists the individuals in the Order of Merit (there are never more than 14 members at one time)- see more here.

Members include David Attenborough, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh. It seems rather sad that David Attenborough, who has spoken up so consistently on behalf of wildlife and wilderness, appears to have swallowed the Greenwash about wind turbines. He was one of those who spoke in favour of the Glyndebourne wind turbine at the Public Inquiry where the turbine was given approval, despite the fact that the area was about to be designated as a National Park.

Perhaps the Duke of Edinburgh will appreciate David Hockney's presence, to give balance if the topic of wind turbines ever comes up at a meeting.

Wind turbines and racehorses

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=18756

Tony McCoy - BBC Sports Personality of the year last year - has halted plans to build a £2m racing stable until he is sure that a wind turbine won’t be erected close to where his horses would exercise. Here is a quote from the above article:

"McCoy has stressed to the council that 25 jobs and £2m of investment would be lost to the area should he pull out altogether."

You can also read this in The Telegraph online:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8982541/Jockey-Tony-McCoy-scraps-plans-for-racing-stable-over-fears-windfarm-will-spook-horses.html

The Lambourn area is one of our most famous centres of excellence for racehorse training. Where one turbine comes, more nearly always follow. How many more jobs could be at risk if this wind turbine is allowed, and where will it end? Long Run, current Gold Cup favourite, is trained in Nicky Henderson's Lambourn yard, and is said to be a "fizzy" character, which is why he wears ear plugs in his races. He is a typical example of the kind of horse who could be spooked by a wind turbine. Racehorses are not family pets and they support a nationwide industry, that not only provides jobs but also gives great pleasure to so many people.

There are racing stables all across Britain, and if Chris Huhne gets his way there will be more and more wind turbines close to them. After all, by their nature, racing stables are usually situated in open countryside, close to hills. Will it be Lambourn first, and Ditcheat next?

Studies have shown that for every Green job that is created, 2.2 or more are lost, and this is a perfect example.

Wind Turbine on fire

It is good to see that there is a video of the recent wind turbine fire in Scotland, on You Tube, filmed by producer and cameraman James Alcock.

Here is a link to another such fire, in the USA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkGXoE3RFZ8&feature=related

and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfHxINzGeo&feature=fvwrel

And you can find many more examples on the internet, at sites such as EPAW

This should go viral.

Wind turbine on fire

Thanks to Conservation for Upland Powys for finding this video of the turbine on fire in Scotland.

This Telegraph article - "1500 accidents and injuries on UK wind farms" - includes a quote from artist Angela Kelly, (featured on our website) Chairman of Country Guardian.

As mentioned on our page about the Fullabrook Down Wind Farm, many wind turbines are built far too close to roads, public footpaths and people's homes.

See more here:
http://www.artistsagainstwindfarms.com/fullabrook2011/fullabrook-mar20-23.html

Scroll down to the row of photographs below the heading March 23rd between Beara and Halsinger. for detailed information about the proximity of houses to these turbines at this wind farm. All the photographs taken on this and other pages of the Fullabrook turbines have been taken from public roads or footpaths, often very close to the turbines.